How to Raise a Disciplined and Socialized Dog?

Raising a disciplined and socialized dog takes time and effort. Our expert guide provides practical tips and techniques for happy companion.

Raising a dog is always fun. Whether you get a puppy and get to start training them from scratch, or you get an older dog and get to build on their foundation, there’s something rewarding about seeing your hard work pay off.

Two things that are important when it comes to raising a dog are makings sure that your dog is both disciplined and socialized. Both of these things are beneficial for you and your dog.

If you’re not sure how to do this, don’t stress. The two go hand in hand, and we’ll be sharing a few tips to make it easier for you.

Be firm

The first rule of raising a disciplined dog is that you need to be fair, but also firm. Don’t allow yourself to be won over by puppy dog eyes; if your dog is doing something wrong, you need to be stern.

This may not be fun, but it will help with your dog’s overall behavior as well as their socialization. They need to listen to you when you tell them to stop doing something. It’s not safe to socialize an undisciplined dog – they could end up hurting someone, and that person may decide to get a lawyer involved

Start when they are young

Ideally, you would start training a dog while they are young since it’s harder to train an older dog. However, it can still be done, if you are patient. Essentially, start training your dog when they are very young, or as soon as you get them.

This will help lay the ground rules, and also minimize confusion for your dog – they need to know what is right and what is wrong from the get-go. You can learn more about when to start training your dog here if you’re unsure of when to begin.

Consider getting more dogs

If your dog only sees other dogs once in a blue moon, they won’t have the opportunity to grow their social skills. You might want to consider getting another dog to help socialize your dog.

Dogs who have company are often better behaved because they will have another dog to keep them busy, which means they won’t be bored and cause other kinds of trouble.

Of course, getting another pet is a big decision, and you need to be sure that you are ready for it. You can take this quiz to see if you are ready to get another dog, but ultimately, only you will know.

Teach them to walk on a leash

A leash is a great tool to help you both discipline and socialize your dog. By teaching them how to walk on a leash, you will have to work together with them as a team. This will earn their respect and make it more likely that they will listen to you when you try to discipline them.

If you regularly walk your dog, you will also come across other dogs, giving your dog the opportunity to socialize. Be sure to buy a good leash so that your dog is comfortable.